Universal mill



H. R. GEER.

UNIVERSAL MILL.

APPLIc-ATIOII FILED IuLY 26, 1920.

1,392,489, I mmm Im.Y 4, 1921. 3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

INVENTOR Har/:y (laf/3 H. R. GEER.

UNIVERSAL MILL.

APPLICATION FILED JuLY 26. 1920.

Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR 'VIBIIII ATTORNE H. R. GEER.

UNIVERSAL MILL.

APPLICATION FILED-JULY 26, 1920.

.l ,3192,489, Y Patented Oct. 4, 1921.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' UNi'rED lSTATES PATENT 'ol-Fica HARRY Ri. GEER, OF JOHNSTOWN, PENNSYITANIAn UNIVERSAL MILL.

To all whom t may concern: Be it known that I, HARRY R. GnER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city of Johnstown, county of Cambria,

My invention relates to improvements in.

rolling mills and particularly to. rolling mills of the class, known in the yart as universal mills andis designed to provide improved housings, supports and guides f or the vertical rolls of such mills.- f

One of the objects of my invention is to provide` a strong and rigid `mechanism adapted .to support and guide the vertical rolls of a mill whereby all thrusts are properly transmittedv to the frame of the mill and also adapted to permit lateral adjustment of the rolls to form theV desired passes. Another object of my invention is to provide for the vertical rolls interchangeable housings which can be readily removed from andremounted in the mill without disturbing the integrity and adjustment of the frame of. the mill.

I-n prior rolling mills, provided withvertical rolls, the vertical roll housings have been made right and left hand housings respectively because of the construction of the guide bars or frames which supported vthe housings but my mill is made with its vertical roll housings identical and interchangeable .and my inventionl comprises such identical and interchangeable vertical -roll housings mounted in and supported by an upper and a lower `guide frame, each of unitary construction. These one piece guide frames,\once secured to the frame of the mill of which they form a part, do not have to be removed 4or the adjustment of the frame of the mill in any way disarranged when for any reason it becomes necessary to change rolls.. In combination with the one piece guide frames, the interchangeable vertical roll housings, which Iprovide, simplify the construction of the mill very much and eliminate the maintenance of a great variety of spare parts for contingencies arising from general use and accidents or requiring replacement of parts.-

' My invention comprises a pair of vertical Specification of Letters Patent.

. Application led J'uly 26,

.Patented oct. 4,1921. 1920. fsrialNo. 398,977.

which are supported in and guided byan tary construction. These one piece guide frames extendbetween the end frames to which they are secured and form therewith the. frame ofthe mill. In connection with the above I show a driving arrangement for the vertical rolls and means adapted to n iove .said rolls laterally whereby the desired pass may be obtained together with .Tolls mounted in interchangeable'. housings f upper and a lower guide frame, each of unimeans adapted to indicate the size of each pass.

Having thus given a general description of my invention, I will now in orderl to make the matter more clear, refer to the annexed three sheets of drawings, which form part of this specification, and in which like characters refer to like parts.

Fi re 1 is a vertical and partly sectiona elevation of the vertical rolling mechanism `0f a universal mill embodying my ivent-ion; Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the rolling mechanism shown in Fig. 1, the lefthand bevel pinion being shown in section with its bearin ca removed; Fig. 3 is a horizontal longitudlnal -section on the' line III--III of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a vertical transverse section on the line IiV-IV of Fig. 1 Fig. 5 is a horizontal transverse section oni the line Vs-V of Fig. 6; Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section of my improved interchangeable vertical roll housing; Fig'. 7 is a horizontal transverse section on `the line VII- VII of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a vertical elevation oi one of the motor operated. gear trains which rotate the adjusting screws;

VFig. 9 is a top pla'n view partly in section Fig. 10 is a top plan view of my improved v upper guide drame; Fig. 11 isa vertical longitudinal sectional elevation on the line XI-XI of Fig. 10; Fig. 12 is a to plan view of my improved lower guide ame; Fig'. 13 is a vertical longitudinal sectional elevation onv thev line XIIIi-XIII of Fig. y12; Fig. 14 is a vertical transverse sectional elevation on the line XIV- XIV of Fig.

13; Fig. 15 showsv a vertical elevation and a transverse section of one of the guide frame side cheek plates; Figfl is a bottom plan view of one of the guide frame top c eek plates; Fig. 17 shows a vertical elevation and a transverse Isection of one o f the lower Side bearing plates used on the vertical roll housings; Fig. 18` shows a plan and an elevation of one of the top bearing plates used o'n the vertical roll housings; Fig. 19 shows a vertical elevation and an end elevation of one of the upper side bearing'plates used on the vertical 'roll' housings, the position of the .key and keeper'being shown in dotted lines on the vertical elevation; and Fig. 20

' is a vertical elevation of vthe key used'to tively, which extend between theend frames 2 and 3 and are secured thereto by bolts or otherwise, comprise the frame for the verti- A cal 'rolling mechanism.

The lower guide frame 4 is of unitary construction and comprises two side vportions 6 and 6a which are connected by two transverse end portions 7 and 8 and an intermedi'- ate transverse portion 9.' The twoside portiens 6 and6a and the transverse portions 7, 8 and 9 thus form two openings 10, two opposed sides of which form lower slideways for thehousings 11 in which the necks of the vertical rolls 12 are journaled. The slideways are yprovided with side cheek plates -13 whichy are secured to the inner sides of the side portions 6 and 6a of the guide frame 4 by boltswhich canjbe inserted through hand' holes 14 in the outer side of the side portions 6and 6*. The side portions 6 and 6EL 'and the transverse end portions 7 and 8 of the-lower guide frame .4 are preferably formed hollow in order to insure minimum weight for maximum strength ,and rigidity while the intermediate transverse portion 9 is preferably of I- shaped section.

The side portions 6 and 6a ofthe lower Aguide frame 4 are provided with integrally formed brackets 15 which extend down-l wardly therefrom and are adjacent to the ends of the intermediate transverse portion 9. The brackets 15 engage the shoes of the bed plates 1 and form rigid central supports for the lower guide frame 4. The

transverse end portions 7 and 8 of the lower guide frame 4 have formed integrally therewith enlarged portions 16, the outwardly extending ends of which set in openings in the end frames 2 and 3.- The enlarged portions 16 are provided with a chamber 17 and an opening 18.l Adjusting screw nuts 19 which are secured in the chambers 17, so as to prevent rotation therein, engage the lower adjusting screws -20 whic pass through the openings 18. In order to provide lfor the difference in' elevation of the vertical rolls 12 the transverse end portion 8 of the lower guide frame 4 is formed deeper than the transverse end portion 7 to allow the adjusting screws to be carried at the proper heights. f

Bosses 21 on `the top of the side portions 6 and 6a of the lower guide frame 4 each side of the intermediate transverse portion 9 form seats for bearings 22 which are secured to the guide frame 4 by bolts or otherwise. The bearings 22 have j ournaled therein the necks of the table rolls 23. A pedestal 24 is secured at the top of the intermediate transverse portion 9 of the lower guide frame 4 betweenvthe table rolls 23- to support the piece to be rolled as it passes between the vertical rolls `12 thereby preventing any sag or downward deflection of the piece. Grooves 25 in the side portion 6'Li of the lower guide frame 4 are adapted to receive the flanges 26 of the horizontal roll housings andthe flanges 26 are secured in the grooves 25 by wedges 27 as shown lin Fig. 3.

The upper guide frame 5 is of unitary v are preferably formed hollow in order to insure minimum weight for maximum strength and rigidity while the intermediate transverse portion 30 is preferably of I-shaped section. The side portions 28 and 28a are of substantially L-shaped outline in order to provide not only vertical slideways, but also horizontal slideways which are arranged at differentheights each side of the intermediate transverse portion 30 in/ order to allow for the difference in elevation of the vertical rolls 12.l The vertical slildieways are provided with side cheek plates 13 and the horizbntal slideways with top cheek plates 32 secured -theretoby bolts which can be inserted through the handholes 33 in the outer side of the side portions 28 and v288.

Each of the side portions 28 and 28a of the upper guide frame 5 is provided adjacent to the ends of thfe intermediate transverse portion 30 with a raised platform 34 formed in-Jv tegrally with the guide frame 5. The platforms 34 support thebearing member 35 which is secured thereto by bolts or otherwise, The bearing. member 35 is provided with two bearings 36-at different heights in ,Y

which are journaled the inner ends of the drive shafts 37 and the central'journal bearpass is also' mounted on the bearing member 35,

ing 38 for the main drive shaft 39. The -dial mechanism 40 which indicates the roll The transverse` end portions 29 of the upper guide frame 5 have formed integrally therewlth enlarged portions 41, the outwardly extending ends of which set-in openings in the end frames 2 and 3. The enlarged portions 41 are provideQd with achamber 42 and an opening 43. Adjusting screw nuts 19 which are secured in the chambers 42, so as to prevent rotation therein, engage the upper adjusting screws 44, which pass through the openings 43. l

Grooves 45 in the si-deportion 28L of the upper guide frame 5 are adapted to receive the flanges 26 of the horizontal roll housings and the flanges 26 are secured in the grooves 45 by wedges A27 as is shownin Fi s. 2 and 10.

he vertical-roll housings 11 areso con structed as to be identical and interchangeable and each housing is provided with lower and upperfjournal boxes 46 "and 47 formed integrally therewith and having mounted therein bearings in which the necks of the vertical rolls 12 are journaled. The guide frames 4 and5support the housings 11 and the lower'and upper journal boxes 46 and 47 thereof fit between and are guided by the slideways of the guide frames 4 and 5. The lower journal box 46 is provided von two opposite sides with lower side bearing plates 48 whichy slidably engage the side cheek plates 13 on the slideways of the lower guide frame 4.- The lower side bearing plate 48 has three fianged edges, the intermediate one of-which sets in a slot 49 in the side of the lower journal box 46' and the other edges grasp the faces thereof, thus serving to hold .the lower side bearingl plate 48 in position'.

These side bearing plates 48 are mounted on the cheek plates 13 in reversed position to allow for the different heights of the slide ways at the ends ofthe guide-frame 4. The horizontal flanged edge of the plate 48 is at the lower edge of the bearing plate at one end of the guide and at the upper edge thereof on the other end of the guide frame 4 as indicated in Fig. 4 to engage the slot 49 in the lower journal box'46 in each case. The upper journal box 47 is provided on the 'two j correspondingly opposite faces with upper side bearing plates 50 which slidably engage the side cheek plates 13 on the slideways of the upper guide frame 5. The upper side bearing plate 50 has a raised and tapered central portion 51 which engages a slot 52 in the sides of the upper journal box 47 and is secured theretoby the key 53 and bolts through the flanges 54 and the-keeper 455 which retains the key 53. nTlehupper side bearin plate 50 is also lprovide with an outwar y extending flange 56 which k slidably engages the lower edge of the side cheek plates 13.V y

The lower journal box 46 is provided with a vertlcal roll bottomfbearingl? fitted with a flanged bushing 58 in which the lower neck of the vertical roll 12 is j ournaled and a thrust bearing comprising a roller bearing 59 underneath the follower 60 on which the end of the vertical roll 12 rests. The external diameter of the lower part of the bottom.

.bearing 57 is less than that of the upper part while the corresponding internal diameters of the lower journal box 46 are arranged in reverse order. The projecting portions of the bottom bearing 57 and the securely therein. Each of the vertical rolls 12 has at the top of the lower neck a collar 62 formed thereon which rests upon the flange of the bushing 58 and is shaped to defleet scale, etc.,away from the bearing. The upper journal -box 47 is provided with a journal bearing comprising a bearing'63 and a cap 64 secured to each other and to the upper journal box 47 by bolts 465,)

Extending, upwardly and laterally from the top of each vertical roll housing 11 ad.- jacent to the upper journal box 47 is a bracketed portion 66 formed integrally with the housing and provided with a thrust bearing 67 in which is journaled the bevel gear 68. The bracketed portion 66 overhangs the sides of the upper journalbox 47 'and the overhanging parts are provided with topbearing plates 69 which engage slots therein and are adapted to-sliding contact with the top cheekplates 32 on the horizontal'slidewa s of the upper guide frame 5.

he bevel gears 68 rotate with and reciprocate on the drive shafts 37 andare-'always in mesh withl the bevel gears 70 on the upper ends of thevertical rolls l2.` The vertical rolls 12 'are thus positively driven at all points lof lateral adjustment through `the maindrive shaft 39 and the spur gears 71 thereon which mesh with the overhung spur gears 72 on the'driveshafts 37.

The lateral adjustment-of the vertical rolls 12 toward each other is accomplished by the rotation of the lower and upper adjusting screws 20 and 44 which bear rotatively against the backs of the lower and ,upper journal boxesr46 and 47 of the vertical roll housings 11. The lateral adjustment of the f vertlcal rolls 12 away from each other is accomplished by the action of the fluid pressure on the pistons 73'in the pull back cylinders 74. The pistons 73 are mounted on pistn rods 75 to the-ends of which are secured cross heads 76.which setin central pockets 77 formed on theI back of the vertical roll housin s 11. Since the pistons 73 are vertical roll housings 11 will at all times be always subject to fluid under pressure the 'firmly held against the ends of the adjusting 13p the screws 20 and 44 and will move in or out according tothe direction of rotation of the ad'jrusting screws 20 and 44. E l

he adjusting screws 20 and 44 are operated by motor driven gear trains, see Figs. 1 and 8, whichare housed between the end` frames 2 and 3 and the gear casings 78 secured thereto. The gears 79 are splined on .the adjusting screws 20 and 44 while the idler gear 80, which meshes with the gears 79, is journaled on the pull back cylinder 74 andthe drive gears 81 are keyed to the inner ends of the jack shafts 82. The jack shafts 82 are mounted in journal bearings 83 secured to the brackets 84 which support the reversible motors 85 and are secured to the end frames 2 and 3. The jack shafts 82 are geared tothe motor shafts 86 and in order that the vertical rolls 12 may move laterally in synchronism the motor shafts 86 are coupled to an equalizing shaft 87 j ournaled near ends in the end frames 2 and 3 and centrally in the bearing 88 which is secured-to. the top guide frame 5.

In a mill used for rolling metals and par"- ticularly steel the rolls are subject to severe usage which makes it necessary to remove and dress the rolls from time to time and also to replace Worn out rolls bynew ones. Such roll" changes involve shutting down the mill and mean a consequent loss of valuable operating time. Therefore any device which simplifies the changes of rolls and reduces the time thereof y and at the same time furnishes a strong and rigid mechanism capable y of heavy duty is much desired. I have fully discussed the strong and rigid construction of my. vertical rolling mechanism andwill now describethe method of changing rolls in order to show the particular advantages of my invention. A

The method of changing either of the vertical rolls 12 and the housing 11 thereof is as follows If the right hand roll isto be removed, the dial operating screw 90 should first be disconnected from the housing 11, iotherwise the procedure is the same for both rolls. In order to provide working clearance the vertical rolls 12 are preferably advanced toward the center of the mill by vthe adjusting screw mechanism. The split thrust collar 89 is removed from the drive shaft 37 by disconnecting the bolts which hold the thrust-collar v89 on the drive shaft 37. Ihe drive shaft 37 is then withdrawn outwardly from the bevel gear 68 through the drive shaft bearing in the end frame 2 or 3.- The vertical rolls 12 are then separated laterally toi'about `their extreme positions by reversing the rotation of the adjusting screws 2O and 44 and the action of the Huid pressure pull-back cylinders 74. The crosshead 78 is then disconnected from the piston rod 75. An eye-bolt is now Ascrewed, into a threaded soc et in the top of the vertical roll- 12 and fa crane hook inserted therein. The bolts holding the keep;I ers 55 and the upper side bearing plates 50 of the upper journal box 47 are then removed thus freeing the keys 53 which may be withdrawn to release the upper side bearing plates 50. The upper side bearing plates 50 are then withdrawn and the vertical roll `housing 11 is free to move vertically. rAs the housing 11 is raised by the crane the Vlower sidebearing plates 48 are slipped off from the lower journal box -46 and the housing 11 is lifted to Vclear the mill. Inasmuch as the housing and the roll unit are interchangeable a spare unit kept on hand for either end of the mill can now be placed in the 'mill by following the above steps in reverse order. y It is thus evident that my invention provides a rapid and facile means adapted. to provide for roll changes without interference to the adjustment of the frame of the mill or undue disturbance to the correlation of the parts thereof and further provides an interchangeable roll housing which greatly reducesthe maintenance of spare parts, always a costly item in rolling mill upkeep. Furthermore the construction of the frame, particularly with reference to my improved guide frames, is such as to insure that all the thrusts of rolling are pro erly transmitted and distributed thereby avoiding any deformation or distortion of the various parts of the mill in their'relation to eachother.

-Although I have'shown and described my invention in' considerable detail, I do not wish to be limited to the exact and specific details thereof,as shown and described, but may use such modifications in, substitutions? 1 for, or equivalents thereof, as are embraced lwithin the scope of my invention,y or as unitary construction, comprising two side portions connected by a plurality of transverse portions, said guide frame constituting 1 a support for the upright rolls. y

2. In a universal mill, end frames, a one piece guide frame extending therebetween and secured thereto and comprising a pair of side portions and a plurality of transl verse portions formed integrally therewith, said guide frame constituting a support for the uprightrolls.

3. In a universal mill, end frames, a guide frame of unitary construction extending therebetween and secured thereto, said guide frame comprising two side portions connected by twotransverse end portions, and an intermediate transverse portion,land longitudinal slideways in the opemngs formedl by said side and transverse portions, said guide frame constituting a support for the upright rolls.

4. In a universal mill, end frames, a pair of one piece guide frames extending therebetween and secured thereto, each of said guide frames comprising two side portions connected by two transverse end portions and an intermediate transverse portion, and slideways in the windows formed by said side and transverse portions.l

, 5. In a universal mill, end frames, a lower guide frame of unitary construction extending therebetween and secured thereto, said guide framey comprising two sideportions connected by a plurality of transverse portions formed integrally therewith and brackets extendin downwardly from the side portions of the guide frame and adapted to engage the bed plates of the mill and to furnish thereby a rigid support for the guide frame.

6. In a universal mill, end frames, an upper guide frame of unitaryconstruction extending therebetween and secured thereto,

- said guide frame comprising two side portions connected by a plurality of transverse yportions formed integrally therewith, and platforms above said side portions formed integrally therewith and adapted to support 'a bearing member secured thereto.

7. In a universal mill, end frames, lower and upper guide frames extending therebetween and lsecured thereto, each yof said guide frames comprising two side portions connected by two transverse end portions and an intermediate ltransverse portion formed integrally therewith, the openings 'betweensaid side and transverse portions 40v being provided with slideways and adapted to support 'and guide a pair of vertical roll housings.

8. In a universal mill, end frames, lower and upper guide frames extending therebetween and secured thereto, each of said guide frames being of unitary construction and comprising two side portions connected by Ytwo transverse end portions and an intermediate transverse portion and having enlarged portions formed integrall with said transverse end portions, said en arged portions containing a chamber provided with an adjusting screw' nut and an opening through V which an adjusting screw passes to engage said nut.

. 9. Ina rolling mill, an interchangeable vertical roll housing of unitaryconstruction comprising a'flanged portion andupp'erand lower journal boxes formed integrally 'therewith and abracketed portion extending upwardly and laterally therefrom. and provided with av thrust bearing in which isjournaled ajsliding 'bevel `gear adapted to mesh with `a bevell gear on theupper end of the roll,

' means for supporting and guiding said housing, means for rotating said sliding bevel gealr and means for laterally adjusting said rol 10. In a universal mill, end frames, upper and lower guide frames of unitary construction extending therebetween and secured thereto, slideways in said guide frames adapted to guide and support a pair of laterally vadjustable and interchangeable roll housings in which are journaled vertical rolls, means for laterally adjusting said housings and means for rotating the rolls.

11.,In-a universal mill, .end frames, upper and lower one piece guide frame castings extending therebetween and secured thereto, slideways inV said guide frames provided with side and top cheek plates, interchangeable roll housings provided with side and top bearing platesy and supported by the slideways of said guide frames, vertical rolls journaled in said interchangeable housings, means for 4rotating said rolls and means for laterally adjusting said interchangeable housings to obtain any desired width of roll pass.

12. An interchangeable roll housing unit for vertical rolls, comprising a casting having upper and lower journal boxes and an upwardly and laterally extending bracketed portion provided with a thrust bearing, a journal bearing secured inl said upper box, a bottom journal and roller thrust bearing secured in said lower box, a vertical roll journaled in said bearings and provided with a bevel gear secured to the upper end thereof, a bevel pinion journaled in the thrust bearing of said bracketed portion, adapted to reciprocate on a drive shaft and always meshed with the bevel gear on the vertical roll, side bearing plates on two opposed faces of the lower journal box, and top bearing .plates at the upper end of said housing.

13. In al rolling mill, end frames, guide frames adapted to support and guide `the housings of a pair of vertical rolls, each of said guide frames comprising a single casting extending between the end frames to which it is secured and having two openings therein,A two opposed faces of each of which formslideways for the vertical roll housings.

14. In a universal mill, end frames, upper and lower guide frames each of unitary construction extending therebetween and secured theretobeach'of saidd guide frames comprising two side portions and a plurality of transverse portions, grooves in one of the side portions of each of said guide frames adapted to receive the flanges of the hori- -zontal roll housings andmeans for securing signature.

' HARRY R. GEER. 

